Diascia plant named ‘Balwhisaptim’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Diascia  plant named ‘Balwhisaptim’ characterized by its apricot-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded, and spreading growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Diascia barbarae×Diascia integerimma×Diascia mollis.

Variety denomination: ‘Balwhisaptim’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Interspecific Diascia plant hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balwhisaptim’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program during the autumn of 2000, at Guadalupe, Calif. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Diascia cultivars with a well-branched, spreading growth habit, continuous flowering, and medium green-colored foliage.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Interspecific Diascia breeding selection designated 1624-1, not patented, characterized by its large pink-colored flowers and bush type habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Interspecific Diascia breeding selection designated 1646-1, not patented, characterized by its coral-colored flowers and prostrate habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross in autumn 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since autumn 2002 at Guadalupe, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balwhisaptim’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant:

-   -   1. Apricot-colored flowers.     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage.     -   3. Vigorous, mounded, and spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in flower color and growth habit, and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

Of the many Diascia cultivars know to the inventor, the most similar to the new cultivar is the cultivar Diastina, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,932. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differed from plants of ‘Diastina’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have darker foliage than Plants of         ‘Diastina’.     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have different flower color than         plants of ‘Diastina’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balwhisaptim’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 11 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balwhisaptim’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up side view and front view of individual flowers of ‘Balwhisaptim’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Nov. 8, 2004 between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. under natural light conditions.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from terminal stem cuttings from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 11 weeks while utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 62°-75° F. (17°-24° C.) during the day and approximately 52°-60° F. (11°-15° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels were maintained at 5,000 to 8,000 footcandles during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Interspecific Diascia cultivar     Balwhisaptim. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Interspecific Diascia breeding             selection designated 1624-1, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Interspecific Diascia breeding             selection designated 1646-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem cutting.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 3 to 4             weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from planting of a             rooted cutting in a 10 cm pot.         -   Habit of growth.—Vigorous. Freely branching with branches             forming at every node.         -   Form.—Spreading mounded.         -   Size.—Height: Approximately 19.6 cm. Diameter (area of             spread): Approximately 48.4 cm.         -   Branch description.—Quantity: Approximately 39 flowering             branches. Strength: Moderate. Shape: Square in cross             section. Length: Approximately 25.6 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2 mm. Internode length at middle of branch:             Approximately 3.2 cm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A.         -   Foliage.—Quantity of leaves per branch: Approximately 9.             Fragrance: None. Type: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite. Leaf             orientation to stem: Obtuse. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Cuspidate.             Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Venation pattern: Pinnate.             Length: Approximately 2.1 cm. Width: Approximately 1.5 cm.             Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color of             mature foliage: Upper surface: 137A with venation of 145A.             Lower surface: Between 138A and 138B with venation of 145A.             Petiole length: Approximately 3.5 mm. Petiole diameter:             Approximately 1 mm. Petiole texture: Upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous. Petiole color: 143A. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 5-7 weeks after planting             of rooted cutting.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with substantially continuous blooming from             spring through autumn and year round in greenhouse             environment. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Type.—Terminal clusters.         -   Size.—Length (depth): Approximately 4.6 cm. Width:             Approximately 5 cm. -   Flower description:     -   -   Lastingness of a single bloom.—Approximately 4-5 days.         -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Approximately 6.         -   Type.—Solitary, not persistent, five lobed, zygomorphic,             with two nectar spurs.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Aspect.—Concave.         -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Flower size.—Width: Approximately 2.2 cm. Length:             Approximately 2.3 cm. Depth, including spurs: Approximately             9 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: Five, two upper petals, two lateral petals             and one lower petal. Type: Imbricate, fused at base. Aspect:             Cupped. Apex: Obtuse. Margin: Entire. Appearance:             Iridescent. Color: Upper surface: Closest to 37B. Color of             lower surface: Closest to 37C. Indentation at base of upper             petals: Length: 3 mm. Width: 3.5 mm. Color: 3A.         -   Two upper (banner) petals.—Length: Approximately 5 mm.             Width: Approximately 4 mm. Texture of upper surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glabrous except for             sparse stipulate glands at base.         -   Lateral petals.—Length: Approximately 8 mm. Width:             Approximately 6 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Glabrous except for sparse             stipulate glands at base. Sharply curved nectar spurs form             at base of each of the lateral petals.         -   Nectar spurs.—Length: 6 mm. Diameter at petal attachment:             3 mm. Diameter at tip: 1 mm. Texture: Sparsely stipulate             glandular. Color: 51C with tip of 58A.         -   Lower petal.—Length: Approximately 9 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Glabrous except for sparse             stipulate glands at base. Gland color: N186A.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Five pointed star, formed by 5 sepals fused at             base. Length: Approximately 3 mm. Diameter: Approximately             6 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal             margin: Entire. Sepal length: Approximately 2.8 mm. Sepal             width: Approximately 1 mm. Texture of upper/inner surface of             sepals: Glabrous. Texture of outer/lower surface of sepals:             Stipulate glandular. Gland color: N186A. Color of upper and             lower sepal surfaces is 143C.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Moderate. Aspect: At acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 1.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately             0.4 mm. Texture: Stipulate glandular. Gland color: 186A.             Color: 143A.         -   Bud (at first color).—Shape: Globular. Length: Approximately             4.2 mm in length. Diameter: Approximately 6 mm. Texture:             Glabrous. Color: 37D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: There are 4 stamens per             flower. Filament length: 3 mm. Filament color: 59B. Anther             shape: Oval. Anther length: 1 mm. Anther color: 9C. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 12A. Gynoecium: Pistil             number: One per flower. Pistil length: 3.3 mm. Stigma shape:             Round. Stigma length: 0.5 mm. Stigma color: 155D. Style             length: Approximately 2 mm. Style color: 145C. Ovary length:             Approximately 0.7 mm. Ovary color: 143A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens or pests common     to Diascia has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Interspecific Diascia plant named ‘Balwhisaptim’, substantially as herein shown and described. 